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WTO Director-General selection process

Nine candidates were nominated by their governments in December 2012 to succeed the current Director-General, Pascal Lamy, whose term ends on 31 August 2013. The procedures for appointing the WTO Director-General are described in document WT/L/509.  A detailed explanation for this current selection process can be found in a 1 November 2012 Communication from the General Council Chair to members. A decision on the next Director General  is due by 31 May 2013 and the new Director-General takes office on 1 September 2013.

SEE ALSO:
> Current WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy
> Deputy Director-General selection process
> Previous GATT and WTO Directors-General

News  back to top

Director-General selection timetable 2012–13

The appointment is made by a consensus decision of the General Council, which consists of all WTO members. Nine candidates were put forward by their governments during the nomination period which closed on 31 December. The candidates presented themselves to the WTO membership in the General Council, 29–31 January 2013. They also spoke to the press.

From 1 April the General Council chair (Amb. Shahid Bashir of Pakistan), assisted by chairs of the Dispute Settlement Body (Amb. Jonathan Fried of Canada) and the Trade Policy Review Body (Amb. Joakim Reiter of Sweden), will consult all members. Their task is to help members build a consensus, and move from the initial field of candidates to a final appointment no later than 31 May 2013. On 19 March, the General Council chairperson told ambassadors how the consultations would be organized.

On 12 April, the General Council chair reported the result of the first round of consultations, and announced a revised slate of five candidates.

On 26 April, he reported on the second round, with two candidates remaining: Mr Herminio Blanco of Mexico and Mr Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo of Brazil.

On 8 May, the three chairs recommended Mr Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo of Brazil to members as the consensus candidate. He was formally accepted as the next Director-General by the General Council on 14 May.

Sources:
1 November 2012 Communication from the General Council Chair to members
Procedures for the appointment of Directors-General (WTO document code WT/L/509)

Selection process in 2009   back to top

At the end of the nomination period, Pascal Lamy was the only candidate. In April 2009, WTO members reappointed Mr Lamy as Director-General for a second four-year term, starting on 1 September 2009.

News 2009  back to top

• 30 April 2009: WTO members reappoint Lamy for a second term
  Audio: Statement by Mario Matus, Chair of the General Council (English interpretation — original in Spanish)
  Audio: Closing remarks by Pascal Lamy
  > Pascal Lamy’s presentation on 29 April 2009
  > Biography of Pascal Lamy

• 29 April 2009: Lamy: “Strengthening the WTO as the global trade body”
  > Statement by Pascal Lamy
  Audio: Statement by Pascal Lamy

• 7 January 2009: Communication from the Chairman of the General Council

• 4 November 2008: WTO Director-General Lamy to seek a second term

Selection process in 2005   back to top

• 26 May 2005: WTO Members choose Lamy as organization's 5th Director-General
• 26 May 2005: Statement from Pascal Lamy on his appointment as World Trade Organisation’s Director General
• 13 May 2005: General Council Chairman's remarks: Informal Meeting of Heads of Delegation
• 29 April 2005: General Council Chairman's remarks: Informal Meeting of Heads of Delegation
• 15 April 2005: General Council Chairman's remarks: Informal Meeting of Heads of Delegations
• 31 March 2005: General Council Chairman's remarks: Informal Meeting of Heads of Delegations
• 26 January 2005: Members meet DG candidates
• 4 January 2005: Four candidates nominated for the post of Director-General

Nominated candidates in 2005   back to top

Listed in the order in which their nominations were received:

Carlos Pérez del Castillo of Uruguay
> Biography
> Statement

Jaya Krishna Cuttaree of Mauritius
> Biography
> Statement

Luiz Felipe de Seixas Corrêa of Brazil
> Biography
> Statement

Pascal Lamy of France
> Biography
> Statement

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